Shoplifter arrested in bank robbery

ESCONDIDO —— A man arrested late last week for shoplifting
turned out to be an Escondido bank robbery suspect, police said
Monday.

Detective Lt. David Mankin said store security took 55-year-old
Anthony Paley Richards of Escondido into custody Friday after he
tried to steal merchandise at the Home Depot at 1550 W. Valley
Parkway.

Richards, who swung a hammer at a security agent, had a stolen
car outside the store, Mankin said.

"(Richards) tells us he's got $9,000 cash in his (own) vehicle
from working in construction, and wanted us to keep it safe for
him," said the lieutenant, adding that the suspect also said he had
more cash at his home.

While Richards was at the police station, Officer Mike Martinez
recognized the suspect as the man who held up a US Bank branch in
an Escondido supermarket four days earlier.

Mankin said detectives found "bait money," bills with known
serial numbers, in both stashes of cash, plus other evidence of the
bank robbery.

"We've recovered almost $11,500 of the $18,500 that was taken,"
Mankin said.

Richards was being held on suspicion of robbery, burglary, grand
theft and vehicle theft at the Vista jail. His bail was set at
$500,000, pending arraignment today at the Vista Court.